Katamanda Villa Chanti

Villa Chanti is tucked into the greenest corner of the gated Katamanda estate, on the hillside between Kata and Kata Noi, where tall trees, flowering bougainvillea and a sweeping lawn wrap the house in privacy. At night the only sound is the wind in the canopy, yet Kata Noi Beach is roughly a five-minute walk away and the cafés and restaurants of Kata are close by. It is a classic two-storey Thai-style home with red-tiled roofs, polished timber floors and warm, colourful interiors.

The garden is the real treat here. Two salt-water pools sit on different levels, linked by a stone water wall that spills from the upper pool into the lower one, and both are framed by palms, potted frangipani and ferns. Loungers line the main pool terrace, steps and a little pergola lead up to the second pool, and after dark the lights turn the whole garden into something quite magical. Inside, the open-plan living room, dining area and kitchen flow together, with generous sofas, a long timber dining table and a well-equipped kitchen with a breakfast counter for easy self-catering.

Three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, are spread around the house for a little breathing space. Two have king beds, carved Thai headboards and big windows onto the trees, one looking straight out to the pool, and the third has twin beds that can be pushed together, perfect for children. Bathrooms have deep tubs or walk-in showers, every room has air-conditioning and ceiling fans, and housekeeping calls twice a week. Round-the-clock estate security and the shared Katamanda tennis court complete the picture.